Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Startled by her son's outburst, Jia Zhangshi paused for a moment, then raised her voice again: "What trouble have I gotten myself into? Huh? That little brat dared to hit me! Didn't you see the handprint on my face? You useless thing, instead of avenging your mother, you're yelling at me?"

"Revenge? What am I supposed to do to get revenge?!" Jia Dongxu jumped up, his face flushed red. "Do you know who Wei Chen is now? Huh? He just brought back over 20,000 jin of meat from Inner Mongolia for the factory! Wild donkeys! Gazelles! Several large truckloads! The whole factory is buzzing! Deputy Factory Director Li personally received him, and the factory is about to recommend him for credit! He's a big shot in the factory now, a hero in the eyes of the leaders!"

He was panting heavily, pointing outside the door, his voice trembling with agitation: "And what you did, spread rumors about him behind his back, cursing him to die! You even bullied his mother in public! The whole hospital knows about it! Do you know what this is? This is slandering and attacking the family of a meritorious employee! Disrupting production! If this accusation is pinned on you, not only me, but even Master Yi will be implicated! Do I still want my job? Do I still want to be a permanent employee?!"

A barrage of words poured over Jia Zhangshi like ice water. Although she was used to throwing tantrums, she still understood the weight of terms like "factory," "leaders," and "sabotaging production." Especially when she heard "over 20,000 jin of meat" and "Deputy Factory Director Li personally receiving her," she was completely stunned. That boy she had called a "short-lived wretch" and someone who would "die out there," had actually done something so significant? And become a favorite of the leaders?

She slowly lowered her hand from her face, the swollen, red handprint starkly visible in the dim light. Resentment and fear swirled within her, contorting her already harsh face even more, but she dared not curse aloud anymore, only muttering resentfully, "Then...then he can hit people? He's a junior, hitting an elder, is there no law anymore..."

"The law?" Jia Dongxu laughed angrily. "Mom, you were the one who cursed him to death first, and then you bullied my old mother who's all alone at home! No matter how you look at it, you're still in the wrong! Wei Chen has made a great contribution, and the factory needs him. You're just asking for trouble by walking into the line of fire now! He even said that if we don't give him a satisfactory explanation, he'll go to the factory security department, the neighborhood committee, and even the police station to report us tomorrow! Then my job will be over! Will our whole family starve?!"

The last sentence was practically a shout from Jia Dongxu, his eyes bloodshot and filled with fear. He knew all too well what this job at the steel mill meant to him and his family. It was his foundation for escaping rural residency, securing a stable job, and establishing himself in Beijing! If he lost it all because of his mother's sharp tongue…

Qin Huairu also stopped her needlework, looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, and timidly advised, "Mom, Dongxu is right. Weichen is... we can't afford to offend him now. Many people in the yard saw what happened this afternoon, we... we were in the wrong. If he really makes a scene, how will Dongxu face people at the factory..." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face again.

Looking at her son's ashen face and listening to her daughter-in-law's tearful pleas, and then thinking about the words "20,000 jin of meat," "the factory's star," "the security department," and "the police station," the last bit of hope and arrogance in her heart was finally suppressed by the immense panic.

She wasn't afraid of arguing with Wang Xiulan or anyone else in the courtyard, but she was afraid of really affecting her son's future and being driven out of the city and back to that poor, remote place.

"Then...then what do you suggest we do?" Jia Zhangshi's voice finally betrayed her panic. "Do I really have to go and apologize to that little...to Wang Xiulan? I...I don't even want to save face anymore!" Making her bow her head and admit her mistake was worse than killing her.

"Face? Mom, this isn't the time to worry about face! Keeping Dongxu's job is the priority!" Qin Huairu exclaimed anxiously. "Wei Chen said you have to personally come to our door and publicly apologize! Otherwise, he won't let it go!"

"I'm not going! I'd rather die than go!" Madam Jia was about to throw another tantrum, but her voice was noticeably weaker.

Looking at his stubborn mother, Jia Dongxu felt a deep sense of powerlessness and anger well up inside him. He knew he couldn't persuade his mother, who had been unreasonable her all her life. He needed to find someone more influential to back her up.

"You guys wait at home! I'm going to find Uncle Yi!" Jia Dongxu said, grabbing his cotton-padded coat and heading out. The only person he could think of now was his highly respected master, Yi Zhonghai, who was an eighth-grade fitter at the factory.

Zhongyuan, Yi Zhonghai's house.

Yi Zhonghai was sipping tea from an enamel mug, listening to his wife, an older woman, ramble on about what had happened in the courtyard that afternoon and the rumors of Wei Chen's meritorious service. He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil. He had never imagined that Wei Chen would achieve such a great feat.

This meant that Wei Chen's status in the factory would rise sharply, and he might even become a rising star in the logistics system. He had also heard about Wei Chen slapping Jia Zhangshi in public that afternoon and demanding an apology. If this matter wasn't handled well, it would affect his prestige in the factory and could even damage his relationship with his apprentice, Jia Dongxu.

Just as he was pondering this, Jia Dongxu hurriedly knocked on the door and came in, his face full of anxiety.

"Master! You must save me, save my family!" Jia Dongxu almost knelt down before Yi Zhonghai as soon as he entered the door.

Yi Zhonghai put down his teacup and frowned: "Dongxu, what's the panic? Speak slowly, the sky isn't going to fall." He had already guessed seven or eight parts of it.

Jia Dongxu recounted the afternoon's events in a rapid-fire manner, emphasizing Wei Chen's threats, his current "celebrity" status, his status as a martyr's family member, and the serious consequences he might face. "Master, that Wei Chen is determined to make a big scene! If he really takes it to the factory or the neighborhood committee, my... my job will be in jeopardy! My mother... she was just confused for a moment, Master, you have to say something for us!"

After listening, Yi Zhonghai remained silent, lost in thought. It was obvious that Jia Zhangshi was in the wrong. But as the eldest son of the family and Jia Dongxu's mentor, he couldn't ignore the situation.

More importantly, he needed to maintain a harmonious atmosphere of "respecting the elderly and caring for the young" and "neighborly harmony," which was the foundation for establishing his authority in the courtyard. In his view, Wei Chen's act of hitting someone (even though Jia Zhangshi was at fault first) was somewhat excessive and against the "rules."

"This Wei Chen, a young man, it's good that he's made contributions, but he can't be too arrogant and disrespectful to the older generation," Yi Zhonghai said slowly, setting the tone. "Hitting someone is never right. Dongxu, don't be too hasty. Here's what we'll do: I'll go with you to the Wei family's house and have a good talk with him. We're all neighbors in the same courtyard, what misunderstanding can't be resolved? Why make such a scene and become a laughing stock for outsiders?"

He felt that his words not only criticized Wei Chen's "excessive" behavior, but also demonstrated his responsibility as an elder to mediate disputes, and could also appease Jia Dongxu.

Jia Dongxu, as if grasping at a lifeline, nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Master, you're right! Wei Chen should listen to a respected elder like you! If you step in, he'll definitely give you face!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded, put on his coat, and said, "Let's go now. We'll talk things out, apologize, and make amends, and it'll be over. After all, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative."

The master and apprentice went out and went straight to the gate of the east courtyard. Yi Zhonghai straightened his collar, cleared his throat, and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" came Wang Xiulan's wary voice from inside.

"It's me, Lao Yi," Yi Zhonghai said in his usual calm and slightly authoritative tone.

The door opened, and Wang Xiulan saw Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu, whose expression was not quite natural. She paused for a moment, then stepped aside, saying, "Oh, it's Grandpa Yi. Please come in." She then called out to the inner room, "Chenzi, Grandpa Yi is here."

Wei Chen came out of the inner room and saw Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu. His face was expressionless, and he simply nodded lightly: "Uncle, Brother Jia." It was neither impolite nor particularly enthusiastic.

Yi Zhonghai sized up Wei Chen. In the month since he'd last seen him, the young man seemed a bit darker and more wiry, his eyes unusually calm, completely unlike the respectful young man would show to him, an "old man." Yi felt a slight displeasure, but showed it on his face. He walked into the main room with his hands behind his back, sat down in the main seat at the square table, and adopted the demeanor of an elder and mediator.

Jia Dongxu stood somewhat awkwardly behind Yi Zhonghai, not daring to look at Wei Chen.

"Wei Chen, you're back? You've worked hard." Yi Zhonghai spoke first, his tone gentle. "I heard you did a great job for the factory this time, bringing back a lot of urgently needed supplies. Well done, young and promising, you've brought honor to our compound!"

"You flatter me, sir. It's all thanks to the factory leaders' excellent leadership. I was just running errands," Wei Chen replied politely, and sat down at the table. Wang Xiulan poured water for him, and Wei Ran curiously peered through the door frame of the inner room.

Yi Zhonghai picked up his water glass, blew away non-existent tea leaves, and said slowly, "Making a contribution is a good thing; the factory praises you, and the whole compound benefits. However, we live in the same compound, so once the doors are closed, we're family. Even family members sometimes have disagreements. A few minor conflicts or misunderstandings can be resolved by talking them out; there's no need to make a big fuss and let the neighbors laugh at us, don't you think?"

He began to lay the groundwork.

Wei Chen didn't respond, but simply looked at Yi Zhonghai quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Seeing that Wei Chen didn't respond, Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to continue: "I've heard about what happened this afternoon. Jia's wife is getting old, and sometimes she speaks a bit... thoughtlessly. Maybe she was worried about you, and she said something harsh in the heat of the moment. You know her, she doesn't have any bad intentions, she's just quick-tongued."

These words, spoken lightly, characterized Jia Zhangshi's vicious curses and bullying as "inconsiderate," "too harsh," and "too quick-tongued."

"Your mother is home alone. It's only natural that she would feel upset and anxious after hearing those words." Yi Zhonghai changed the subject. "However, Wei Chen, you are, after all, a junior. No matter how wrong Sister-in-law Jia is, she is still an elder. You hit her. This... will have a very bad impact if word gets out?"

In our new society, we value respecting the elderly and caring for the young, and we believe in reasoning things out. Look, your brother Jia is here too; he'll apologize to you and your mother on behalf of his mother. I think we should just let this matter rest. We're neighbors, we'll see each other again soon; making things awkward won't be good for anyone.”

He looked at Jia Dongxu, signaling him to speak.